12 | Time

Max sighed, folding the paper up and putting it inside the envelope, closing it and flipping it over writing 'Billy' across it. She turned her head, slightly looking at the group behind here. "I know you guys are staring at me." She exposed, all of them moving and pretending to do something else. "What, sorry? Just hanging out." Steve said picking up the ball and tossing it in the air, catching it. "You said you needed something?" Lucas pretended, looking up from the pages in his hand. "How you think your eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know." she huffed, stacking the envelopes in her hand and getting up, walking over to them. "For you and y/n, for you, and, um, you. Oh, and, um, give these to Mike, El and Will. If you can ever get a hold of them again." Max said, giving the envelopes out apart from the one she clung on to. Dustin looked down at his, starting to open it. "Hey, what are you doing? No, don't. That's not for now, don't open it now." Max stopped, holding a hand out in front of him. "Don't...okay." Dustin repeated, fiddling with both the unopened envelopes in his hands.

"I'm sorry, what is this?" Dustin asked, flipping it back and forth in his hands. Max grimaced and looked at the ground. "It's, um...it's a fail-safe. For after, if things don't work out." Max stammered, her breath hitching. "Wait, woah. Max, things are gonna work out." Lucas assured, Max cutting him off. "No! No, I don't need you to reassure me right now, and tell me it's all gonna work out, because people have been telling me that my entire life and it's almost never true. It's never true. I mean, of course this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming." she commented, looking around and walking over to the table where the walkie-talkie sat. "If we go to East Hawkins, will this still reach Pennhurst?" Max questioned, Dustin nodding and assuring her. "Why are we talking about East Hawkins? No, no, no!" Steve huffed, all of the younger teens looking at him.

------------------

"Max, Max, seriously. Seriously, I'm not joking, I'm not driving you anywhere." Steve huffed, looking at the red head and jogging up to her. "Steve, if you think I'm going to spend what is likely the last day of my life, in the armpit that is Mike Wheeler's basement, then you're out of your mind. So, either take me where I need to go or you're gonna have to tie me down, which is technically kidnapping of a minor. And if I live to see another day, Steve. I swear to God, I will prosecute." she argued, pulling on the car door and looking back up as it didn't open. "Open the door." she demanded, Steve shaking his head. "I know a good lawyer." She reminded, Steve looking at her in disbelief before scoffing and unlocking the car. "Henderson, that super walkie of yours better reach Pennhurst." he grumbled, getting into the car, Max turning around as she heard the chimes in her ears again, before getting in.

Robin stumbled in her heels, ankles rolling and slightly relying on Y/n who was lending her and arm to help her balance. "I can't breathe in this thing, and I'm itchy. I'm itching all over." Robin complained, Nancy sighing and Y/n looking over in sympathy. "It's not all about comfort, we're academics who are evidently coming straight from Easter Brunch." Y/n recalled, trying to help ease the tension. "Also, this bra, that you gave me is really pinching my boobs." Robin admitted, Y/n holding in a laugh. "Okay, could you just let me, and y/n do the talking? if that's even possible." Nancy snapped, Robin rolling her eyes at her outbreak. "It's not only possible, it's inevitable because shortly, I'll be dead from strangulation." Robin exaggerated following behind.

--------------------

"3.9 GPAs. All of you. Impressive." Dr Hatch read, placing the folder down and looking back at them. "And this is a recommendation from Professor Brantley." Nancy lied, passing it over to him. "Yes, I know Larry. Quite well, actually. Eh, you know what they say. 'Those who can't do, teach.'" he laughed, the three of them fake laughing along with him. "Uh, yes, yes, that's actually why we're here. I mean, we can only learn so much in a classroom." Nancy added, him nodding along.

"And I'm sympathetic to your struggle, truly. But there is a protocol to visiting a patient like Victor. You have to put in a request. and then you have to undergo a screening process, at which point the board will make a decision. I can see you're disappointed. But I'm more than happy to give you a tour of our facility. Perhaps, you can even speak to some patients in our low-security wing." he suggested, Nancy and Y/n smiling at each other knowingly. "And we'd...we would love that. It's just that, um...our thesis is due next month." Y/n lied, bracing themself for his response.

"Then you're out of time. Whose fault is that?" he retaliated, Y/n biting their tongue from his tone. "Ours, absolutely. And I do apologise." Nancy said, Robin cutting her off making the pair of them look at her. "Don't apologise, Ruth. Screw that. The fact is, we did put in a request months ago and were denied. And then we reapplied and were denied again. And coming here, was our last-ditch effort to save out thesis. And I really...I can't breathe in this thing." Robin huffed, starting to go off slightly.

"Rose, maybe you'd like to go outside and get some fresh air" Y/n suggested, Robin nodding and getting up. "Maybe I should Riley, because I'm starting to think this whole thing is a colossal mistake. I'm breaking out in a rash, my boobs hurt, and I'll tell you the truth, Anthony. May I call you Anthony? These aren't actually my clothes. I borrowed them because I wanted you to take us seriously. Because nobody takes girls seriously in this field, they just don't. We don't look the part of whatever, but can I tell you a story? 1978, I was at summer camp and my counsellor Drew told me and everyone in cabin C the true story of the Victor Creel massacre. And little Petey McHew...you know Petey, right, Ruth?" she questioned, looking at Nancy who nodded, unsure of where this was going.

"Little Petey Mchew started sobbing right there on the spot. Full-on hyperventilating, the other campers couldn't sleep for weeks. And I couldn't either, but not 'cause I was scared. Because I was obsessed with the question, 'What would drive a human being to commit such unimaginable acts?' Other kids wanted to be astronauts, basketball players, rock stars. But I wanted to be you. I wanted to be you so, forgive me if I'll now try anything in my power, including wearing this ridiculous outfit. If I might get to speak to the man that ignited my passion and learn a little more about his twisted, but let's face it, totally fascinating mind works. So, yes, we don't have the official paperwork, but don't tell me that cry-baby Petey McHew wouldn't have gotten an audience with Victor in a matter of moments, if he'd asked politely, because you and I both know that he would. So, ten minutes with Victor. that's all I ask." she finished her rant with, looking at him dead in the eyes.

-------------------

"Alright this better be fast, Mayfield." Steve huffed, parking the car up and looking back at her. "Twenty seconds." she clarified, getting out and walking into her trailer, looking for her mum. "That things got batteries in it, right?" Steve asked, Dustin looking at him as if hie was crazy. "I'm not even answering that question. Yes, it has batteries." he answered back, Lucas shaking his head t Steve. Max placed a couple letters down on the table, all labelled with family member names, she took in her surroundings, taking a deep breath. "Mom." she called, running out the back, over to her. "Hey sweetie. I thought you were with your friends today." she asked, meeting Max halfway. "Yeah, I... I was. I am. Shouldn't you be at work?" she asked, confused as to why she was home. "Oh, Mr Bradley let me off early. So, I'm just catching up on some chores." she told her.

"Um, I... I left some letters inside. For you, and for Granny, and uncle Jack. And dad. If you can find him." Max told her, her mother shaking her head, confused about the whole situation. "Letters? I... I don't understand." she said, Max stumbling on her words. thinking about how best to explain. "I just...um...with all the murders and everything, I... I know it's stupid, but I just started to think, 'what if something bad happens to me?'" she half lied, looking at her mother. "Max, baby, nothing is going to happen to you." she assured, Max shaking her head and getting agitated. "I know. But if...if it did, I just...there's so many things that I want to say, that I need to say. And... just promise you'll give the letters out?" she pleaded, just wanting a yes in response. "Max, you're scaring me. Is something going on, Maxine? Is it, baby?" her mother persisted, Max giving up.

"No, no. You're right, I'm sure I'll be fine, I'm being silly." she huffed, her mother pulling her in for a hug. "Max, oh, sweetie. Shh. It's okay. Nothing is going to happen, baby. I promise. Nothing you don't deserve." her mother finished, Max looking up at the surroundings. Everything had gotten darker, fog everywhere, a huge dark grey cloud taking over the sky, blocking out the natural light. She tried to get out of her 'mother's grip, struggling. "Mom, let go of me. Mom? Let go." she repeated, her mother now revealing Vecna. "Maxine. You think some letters are going to make things, right? You've broken everything. Your time is almost at an end." he announced, Max continuing to fight him off. She gasped, taking a double take as she came to her senses, laying across the grass. She got up, looking around her, her mother now gone - confused as to what just happened. She picked her bag up and ran around to the front, walking to the car obviously distraught.

Dustin was sat on the bonnet, Lucas stood outside the car and Steve resting on the frame of the car door, looking at her in concern. "Hey, that was longer than twenty seconds. Hey, woah, woah. You alright?" he asked, Max storming past and opening her car door. "I'm fine, just drive." she instructed, everyone getting back in. "Did something happen?" Dustin asked, flinching at her response.

"Can we please just go?"